IT STARTED as a carbon-saving, eco-friendly project designed to help local people save money.

Eighteen months on, it has become a popular hub, bringing neighbours together to build friendships (as well as spice racks and kitchen stools….)

In terms of reviving community spirit and making everyone think more closely about the environment, the Southside Tool Library in Govanhill has nailed it.

“It saves people money, but there are big environmental savings too,” says Jo Hartga, waste officer with South Seeds, the environmental and energy awareness charity behind the tool library, one of the first in Scotland.

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“And people, who might not otherwise have met, have made connections with each other. It’s been really fantastic.”

Bringing people together to build and strengthen communities is at the heart of the Glasgow Times Streets Ahead campaign, backed by our generous partners Glasgow City Council, City Building and City Charitable Trust.

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We are now in our ninth year of the initiative, which has gone from strength to strength.

Each month, we showcase some of the best projects and groups working hard to make Glasgow a better place to live, work and play and later in the summer, we highlight the best in our annual awards ceremony.

Southside Tool Library now has 300 members – 70 per cent are women – and estimates its 600 loans has saved local people £7000 and the environment more than half a tonne of carbon.

It all began in June 2018, when South Seeds received Climate Challenge Funding to set up the project.

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Sadly, it lost funding last year, but managed to keep things going on a skeleton basis.

“Now we have secured more funding, through the National Lottery Community fund, we are fully up and running again,” says Jo.

“We ask people to pay what they can afford for an annual membership – most pay £20 - and through our inventory booking system, can reserve tools 24 hours in advance.”

Alex Bewley, who has used the tool library since it started, said: “It has probably saved us hundreds of pounds, allowing us to do some much needed renovations on a 100-year-old-plus property that was in danger of moving past the point of no return, like so many other Glasgow tenements.”

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He adds: “It’s been great redeeming all the old original features hidden behind all the plastic-based rubbish that had been plastered over it in the recent past.”

Jamie Cameron, of Battlefield, used the library for the first time at Christmas.

“I wanted to try an upcycled Christmas – making birdhouses as presents for my family, he explains.

“I think what they are trying to do here is fantastic. As well as saving money, it encourages people to think about fixing stuff rather than simply throwing it away, which is important. And it has a great community aspect too – people can get to know their neighbours.”

If you are involved with, or want to start, a project that will improve your local area and bring your community together, get in touch.

Streets Ahead has helped to kick-start countless projects with grant funding since we launched our community campaign in 2011.

Email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk to find out more and to receive a copy of the grant application form.